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James H. Schutte
Cucurbitaceae
CUCURBITA pepo 'Papaya Pear'
Summer Squash
Winner of the All-America Selections award in 2003, ‘Papaya Pear’ hybrid yields an abundance of bright yellow, uniquely pear-shaped fruits with a delicious, classic summer squash flavor. Best picked when small and tender, they are ready for harvest approximately 45 days from sowing.
Like many summer squash, ‘Papaya Pear’ is derived from the New World species Cucurbita pepo. These warm season, annual vines are monoecious, meaning single plants bear separate male and female flowers. The large, yellow, funnel shaped male blossoms are generally produced first, followed by the fruit-producing female flowers, which are distinguished by bulbous ovaries at the bases. Following pollination by bees, these develop into fruits, which are often obscured by the plant’s large, coarse, heart-shaped or deeply lobed foliage.
Plant squash seeds in full sun and deep, rich, well-drained loam when the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed. Regular water is essential, but the plants will not tolerate soggy conditions or wet feet. Where drainage is not optimal, it is advisable to plant them in raised mounds of fertile, porous soil. Vining types can be trellised if space is limited. Watch closely for squash bugs, cucumber beetles and vine borers at the base of the stems. Older plants are often susceptible to powdery mildew. Yearly crop rotation and removal of dead plant debris at the end of the growing season can help to minimize insect and disease problems.
12 - 1
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m (2)
3'-30' / 0.9m - 9.1m (20)
Indeterminate
Hybrid Origin, North America, Mexico, Central America
Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Very Fast
Average Water
Vining/Climbing
Summer, Fall
Showy
Yellow, Orange
Yellow
Green, Dark Green
Yes
No
Single
Coarse
Matte
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
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